The United Nations confirmed this Tuesday that it is in talks with multiple governments to ensure the supply of fuel to Cuba, amid the worst electricity crisis on the island in several decades.
On August 4th, during the daily press conference of the UN, Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, answered a journalist's question about whether the organization was involved in efforts to deliver fuel to the island.
“We have been in talks with several countries interested in helping Cuba to ensure that, for humanitarian reasons, Cuba has the fuel it needs for its humanitarian needs,” Haq responded.
The statement was brief and did not provide any specific details about actual progress.
When the same journalist asked if there had been any positive response, Haq did not confirm any agreement nor provided names of countries or deadlines.
His response was limited to acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and appealing to past efforts.
"In recent days, as you may have noticed, there have been serious issues with fuel shortages, and we have expressed our concern about this. In previous months, we made some progress in obtaining limited quantities of fuel, and we continue to work on it," he added.
Months of promises without tangible results
What makes the statement particularly questionable is that the UN has been repeating practically the same message since February, without the crisis being resolved.
On February 6, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned that Cuba could "collapse" if it did not receive oil.
In March, the resident coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, confirmed diplomatic efforts with Washington for a humanitarian exemption, and warned that "the space for preventive diplomacy is closing very quickly."
Days later, Dujarric stated that negotiations with the United States were "an important and fundamental avenue"; and he added, "We hope to be successful in those discussions."
On March 26, the UN presented an emergency plan valued at 94.1 million dollars, contingent on an agreement with Washington that never fully materialized.
Five months after the first alarms, the UN continues to speak of "contacts" and "limited quantities," with no solution in sight.
A crisis that continues to worsen
The backdrop of the United Nations declaration is devastating.
Cuba has experienced at least seven massive collapses of the National Electric Power System (SEN) so far in 2026.
That same Tuesday, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez posted on social media that the blackouts "are a direct consequence of the genocidal blockade by the United States against Cuba."
He also argued that the embargo "prevents the free importation of fuels, blocks the entry of necessary parts and components for the SEN, hinders collaboration with experts from other countries, and complicates access to international financing."
While the regime and Washington exchange accusations, the UN has been expressing its concern for months without concrete results.
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